The Building Safety Act: What it means for your extension, loft conversion or new build
You might have heard about the Building Safety Act in the news, usually in connection with high-rise buildings and cladding issues. It sounds like something that only affects tower blocks and apartment complexes – not your plans for a Bristol home extension, loft conversion or new build.
And it's true that most of the Act's provisions focus on higher risk buildings. But there are important parts that apply to every construction project, including yours. Understanding what's changed – and why – can help you choose the right builder and ensure your project is done properly.
Let me break down what you actually need to know…
What the Building Safety Act is (and why it exists)
The Building Safety Act 2022 represents the biggest change to building regulations in England for nearly 40 years. It was introduced following the Grenfell Tower tragedy with the fundamental aim of making buildings safer and ensuring everyone involved in construction is competent and accountable.
While the Act's headline provisions target high-rise residential buildings (18 metres or higher), it also strengthens the regulatory framework for all building work. The underlying principle is simple: everyone involved in designing, approving and constructing any building must be competent and there must be proper accountability throughout the process.
For your extension, loft conversion or new build, that principle matters.
What actually applies to your project
The good news is that your extension, loft conversion or single-family new build isn't classified as a ‘higher risk building’ so you won't face the complex Gateway Approval Process or need a Building Safety Regulator sign-off.
The parts that do apply to your project include:
Enhanced competence requirements. The Act formalises that everyone working on your building – from designers and architects to builders and building control inspectors – must be demonstrably competent. This isn't just about qualifications, it's about having the right skills, knowledge and experience for the specific work being done.
Strengthened accountability. There's now greater clarity about who's responsible for what during construction. If something goes wrong, it should be clear who made which decisions and why. This means better record keeping and documentation throughout your project.
Improved Building Control. Building Control approval has always been required for structural work, extensions, loft conversions and new builds. The Act strengthens this system, requiring more robust checks and clearer communication between Building Control and everyone involved in your project.
Fire safety considerations. Fire safety matters – especially for loft conversions where you're creating habitable space on an upper floor or new builds where proper compartmentation and escape routes must be designed in from the start. The Act reinforces requirements around fire-resistant construction and proper safety measures.
Golden thread of information. This is the principle that accurate, up-to-date information about your building should be created during construction and maintained afterwards. For you, that means proper records of what was built, how it was built and with what materials.
Why competence matters more than ever
Here's where the Act gets practical for homeowners. It places legal emphasis on ensuring competent people are designing and building your home.
Before the Act, the term ‘competent’ was used in various regulations, but it wasn't always clearly defined or enforced. Now there's a stronger focus on what competence actually means – and builders, designers and building control bodies must demonstrate it.
For you, as a homeowner planning a substantial project, this matters because:
You have a clearer responsibility to appoint competent people
Builders can't simply claim competence; they need to show it through qualifications, experience and track record
If you knowingly appoint someone incompetent and something goes wrong, you could face greater liability
The Act reinforces something you probably already knew intuitively: the people you choose to design and build your extension, loft conversion or new home need to actually know what they're doing.
What this means for Bristol builders
For builders working on your Bristol extension, loft conversion or new build, the Building Safety Act reinforces several existing requirements and adds new accountability:
Demonstrable competence. Builders need to show they have the skills, knowledge and experience for the work they’re undertaking. This might include qualifications (like SMSTS for site management), professional memberships, insurance and a track record of similar projects completed successfully.
Clear accountability. Under CDM 2015 regulations (which govern health and safety and which the Building Safety Act complements), builders must clearly identify who's responsible for what on your project. For substantial work, this typically means having a qualified Principal Contractor coordinating safety and compliance.
Proper record-keeping. The ‘golden thread’ principle means builders should be maintaining detailed records of work completed, materials used and any changes made during construction. This protects everyone if questions arise later.
Building Control engagement. Contractors must work cooperatively with Building Control, providing information when requested, allowing inspections at appropriate stages and addressing any concerns raised.
Fire safety compliance. For projects like loft conversions or new builds where fire safety is critical, builders must demonstrate they understand and comply with relevant regulations – including escape routes, fire-resistant construction and proper ventilation.
In practice, a good builder was already doing most of this. The Act just makes it clearer that cutting corners isn't acceptable.
How we approach building safety compliance
For Dybowski, the Building Safety Act doesn't require fundamental changes to how we work – because regulatory compliance and competence have always been core to our approach. It's how I was taught by my father and it's how I've run this business for 30 years.
My team holds relevant qualifications: SMSTS certification for site management, CSCS cards proving competency levels and ongoing professional development to stay current with changing regulations. We maintain detailed records throughout every project. We engage properly with Building Control, applying for approvals when required and facilitating inspections at appropriate stages.
When we work on your loft conversion, extension or new build in Bristol, fire safety isn't an afterthought – it's designed in from the start. Proper compartmentation, adequate escape routes, fire-resistant materials where required… these are fundamentals we get right because they protect you and your family.
This compliance is not optional, but more importantly it's the responsible way to build.
What to look for in a builder
When you're choosing a builder for your extension, loft conversion or new build, the Building Safety Act gives you a framework for important conversations. You might ask:
"Can you demonstrate your competence for this type of project? What relevant qualifications and experience do you have?"
"How do you ensure compliance with Building Regulations and who manages Building Control engagement?"
"What records will you maintain during construction and beyond?"
"For a loft conversion or new build, how do you ensure fire safety compliance?"
A competent, professional builder will answer these questions clearly and confidently. I'd welcome them, because they show you understand that doing things properly matters.
A builder who dismisses these questions or suggests they're unnecessary bureaucracy is showing you where they stand on compliance – and that's useful information before you sign a contract.
Competence you can trust
The Building Safety Act reflects something I've always believed: buildings should be safe and the people designing and constructing them should know what they're doing.
For your Bristol extension, loft conversion or new build, that means choosing a builder who demonstrates competence, maintains proper records, engages appropriately with Building Control and takes fire safety and regulatory compliance seriously.
It means recognising that while you might not need the complex approvals required for a high-rise building, the principles of the Act – competence, accountability, safety – apply to your project too. It ensures that when we hand over your completed extension or new home, you can live in it with complete peace of mind.
The Building Safety Act formalises what we've always done. For me, that's reassuring – it means the industry as a whole is moving in the right direction.
Planning an extension, loft conversion or new build in Bristol? Let's talk about doing it properly, with the competence and compliance your project deserves.
